If you're only giving me a "normal" camera at 14MP, I want it to be $1000, and that blows your market for the higher end cameras. To engineer in all the bells an whistles you want in a specialized 14MP FF model, you'll have to sell it for $1900 or more, and what would everybody think then? Sony's not in the niche market yet.
Now, take the current 550, put it in a 700 body re-vamped for the LV, and keep all the 700's controls, then you have a nice little $1400 750. Sure, Barry won't buy it at that price,
You just can't set the mark too low, MP wise on FF these days, and still have room in the market space to make profit. Face it, the days of the 6MP DSLRs are done, no matter what you think of your 5D. There are no new 8 MP DSLRs, and with cell phones breaking the 12MP barrier (quality isn't there, but it's a marketing point) how long will it be before 12 MP is the floor for APS-C?
No doubt that in a few years we'll see super high ISO sensors, but as a steady progression of sensor evolution. Sports guys will pay extra for high FPS cameras, but as Don the Bi-Polar always pointed out, Sony's not in that market. (at least not yet). Right now, some 14 month afte I got my 350, it's replacement (550) offers me real improvements for just about $100 more. I can't complain too much about that.
Dusty



